Comments on: How Freelance Writing Is Like Selling Cars

By: All Freelance Writing: Your Freelance Writing Resource: » Freelance Friday - June 6, 2008

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:35:18 +0000

[...] How Freelance Writing is Like Selling Cars [...]

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:17:00 +0000

@ Meryl – “Annoying sales tactics,” LOL, I like it! And good for you – overcoming fear is, often, as big an obstacle as any.

@ Courtney – thankya! I look forward to reading your post at Deb’s.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:07:06 +0000

This is part of the post I’ve been working on for my post at Deb’s blog later this month. I totally agree with your perspective. There’s nothing wrong with sales…it’s just gotten a bad rap. The same goes for marketing, and particularly internet marketing.

I love this blog! Good writing and great topics.

By: Meryl K. Evans

Meryl K. Evans — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:25:54 +0000

First thought at headline, “So freelancers make people uncomfortable and use annoying sales tactics?” Just kidding.

Seriously, one reason I never wanted to go in business for myself was the fear of not having enough clients. I know they don’t line up waiting for you. Being deaf can also make it more challenging because cold calls through the relay are very awkward.

Nonetheless, I thank my lucky stars I pulled it off.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:58:07 +0000

@ Lis – Glad to have you back! I like the new site, by the way. Good stuff.

@ Evan – My experience with real-world sales has been different. I feel like there are a handful of bad apples that spoil the whole damn bunch.

I get what you’re saying about exposing tactics, but I also recognize that there are only so many hours in a day. I feel like the best way to address the issue is to operate with honesty and integrity ourselves – blaze the trail, as it were.

@ Monika – Aw, heck, I could probably have written Andy’s comment a decade and a half ago. I, too, was young and dumb once. I’ll give him a pass.

@ Enn – Thanks for stopping in! I’d just add that public service and compensation aren’t mutually exclusive. A market transaction is one in which both the seller and buyer benefit. When this happens, everyone benefits. Econ 101, you know?

@ Writing/Editing Job Roll – I know that’s a Trackback, but it gives me a great opportunity to say this: If you haven’t gone over to John Hewitt’s newly designed Writers Resource Center, get your ass over there now. The new look is fan-tabulous, and the content is awesome as always.

By: The Writing / Editing Job Roll » 05/07/2008 Writing Jobs and Links

The Writing / Editing Job Roll » 05/07/2008 Writing Jobs and Links — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:29:12 +0000

[...] How Freelance Writing Is Like Selling Cars [...]

By: Enn C. Baybay

Enn C. Baybay — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:43:32 +0000

Hi Bob,
Absolutely, I agree with your stand on this issue. Let us accept the reality that all writers have to become salesmen at the end of the day. While public service is a paramount objective, it is just and proper to receive compensation for your writing. Blogging is one of the opportunities to do this. Because while you blog on something, you are in a way sharing your thoughts. Meanwhile, you engage in marketing or advertise your affiliate’s products.

Let me remind our readers that for every blog or articles you have written, it creates, what we call a “by product.” Every word is picked up and coverted as an advertising tool. This process automatically converts writers indirectly into salesmen. Therefore, Andy is a blogger-salesman, too. More power to you, Bob.

Best regards,
Enncrave at http://enncrave.blogspot.com

By: Monika Mundell

Monika Mundell — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:08:44 +0000

@ Evan: wow, that was written with compassion and I couldn’t agree with you more. Sleazy sales people are the cause of the “wrong picture” we have in our minds and real estate agents are notoriously known to be amongst them.

@ Bob: great post. Isn’t it interesting how we can draft blog posts from adversity. Don’t let this guy run you down. People like that are losers in my eyes as they have nothing to do than bash others down.

Get a life Mr.Andy and do something worthwhile with your time for a change.

Monika Mundells last blog post..Opportunity Cost – A New Beginning

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:48:43 +0000

Hi Bob,

I’m not making my living from my blog yet. And I just plain hate doing sales (related you suspect; so do I).

I have reconciled myself to marketing however, one step on the path perhaps. My resolution of the issue is: I’m delighted to make my money by making friends (marketing/sales) and providing value (the product).

To all those sales people out there. The reason for your bad reputation is the behaviour of so many salespeople. I have been renting for the past 30 years (the income from my successful blog will hopefully end this situation). The total number of real estate agents who have shown genuine concern for me as a tenant in all these years? One (1). They routinely stretch the truth (to put it kindly) and do the minimum work required.

Which brings me to our blogosphere. It’s time to get serious exposing the dodgy tactics of some of the Internet Marketers. Their antics will eventually lead to us all being regarded as the used car salespeople of the 21st century – I for one would really hate being put in this box.

Evans last blog post..How to Divorce Your Parents

By: Root & Sprout

Root & Sprout — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:13:05 +0000

I couldn’t agree more! Great post!

I feel like what I’m doing half the time is selling an idea and trying to get people interested in my project (my new website). It’s been awhile since I commented here, but I think you’ve hit it right on the mark.

(Lis Garrett)

By: Bob

Bob — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:04:54 +0000

@ Karen – I grew up being suspicious of sales folk, which is especially strange given that my grandfather was in small business. It took meeting my father-in-law for me to understand. He wasn’t trying to get people to buy something out of greed; he believed his product was the best and he believed the client would be better off with it than without it.

@ Lori – I’d rather make turducken

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:01:57 +0000

Way to make lemonade from a real lemon (or turkey stroganoff from a real turkey)! Very cool post, Bob. Don't quit your day job for car sales, okay? Loris last blog post..

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:58:56 +0000

You have touched on a subject near and dear to my heart. I was in Sales for many years. I have written extensively for sales people and about the selling process. Sales is not manipulating someone to buy something they neither want nor need. This is a misconception. Yes there are horrible sales people but they don’t represent the entire profession. Selling is the process of identifying needs, desires and preferences and providing solutions to meet them. Yes we’re writers but people will never know what we have to offer if we don’t tell them. The used car salesman has really gotten an unfair rap!